AHI Sends Letter to President Bush Regarding Russia/Georgia and Turkey/Cyprus

WASHINGTON, DC—On August 18, 2008 AHI President Gene Rossides sent a letter to President George W. Bush regarding the recent Russian invasion of Georgia and Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The text of the letter can be found below.

The current crisis in Georgia should bring to the forefront Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and continuing occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus with 43,000 illegal occupation troops in violation of the UN Charter and NATO Treaty and 170,000 illegal settler/colonists in violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949.

It should also bring forth a public statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of Turkey’s illegal troops and settlers/colonists.

Comments by your administration regarding Russian actions in Georgia and calling for the removal of Russian invasion forces ring hollow when compared to U.S silence in 1974 regarding Turkey’s aggression in Cyprus with the illegal use of U.S.- supplied arms in violation of U.S. laws, the U.N. Charter and the NATO Treaty.

The analogy of Russian actions in Georgia and Turkey’s actions in Cyprus is much stronger as the evidence is now clear with the release of classified documents that the U.S., through the actions of then Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, aided and abetted Turkey’s invasion of the island Republic of Cyprus on July 20, 1974 and further aided and abetted Turkey’s violation of the UN cease fire and massive second wave of Turkey’s aggression on August 14 to 16, 1974, three weeks after the legitimate government of Cyprus had been restored, and grabbed an additional 33 percent of Cyprus for a total of 37 percent.

Mr. President, Turkey’s army in its massive second wave of aggression ethnically cleansed one third of Cyprus by forcing 170,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes and property, killed innocent civilians on a substantial scale, raped women from the age of 12 to 71, mistreated detainees and looted on an extensive scale.

The government of Cyprus filed three applications to the European Commission on Human Rights. The Commission issued its report on the charges made in the first two applications on July 10, 1976. In it, the Commission found Turkey guilty of violating the following articles of the European Convention on Human Rights:

Article 2 – by the killing of innocent civilians committed on a substantial scale.

Article 3 – by the rape of women of all ages from 12 to 71;

Article 3 – by inhuman treatment of prisoners and persons detained;

Article 5 – by deprivation of liberty with regard to detainees and missing persons – a continuing violation; and

Article 8 – by displacement of persons creating more than 170,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, and by refusing to allow the refugees to return to their homes – a continuing violation;

Article 1 of the First Protocol to the Convention – by deprivation of possessions, looting and robbery on an extensive scale.

On January 23, 1977, the London Sunday Times published excerpts of the report and stated: “It amounts to a massive indictment of the Ankara government for the murder, rape and looting by its army in Cyprus during and after the Turkish invasion of summer 1974.”

Mr. President, we urge you in the best interests of the U.S and in support of the rule of law, to call for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers/colonists from Cyprus. Such a public statement would give enormous support to the forthcoming discussions between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and would have a favorable impact on the Georgia crisis.